Method for implementing surround sound using a plurality of vehicles

ABSTRACT

The present inventive concept relates to a method for implementing surround sound system using a plurality of vehicles, which implements the surround sound by outputting a sound source corresponding to a surround sound node of itself according to a synchronization signal after each vehicle located in a local area (AVN system: Audio, Video, Navigation system) identifies the surround sound node of itself based on its position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based on and claims benefit of priority from KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2014-0112420, filed on Aug. 27, 2014 in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the content of which isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present inventive concept relates to a method for implementingsurround sound using multiple vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

In many mono-audio systems a single sound source is outputted through anumber of speakers or one speaker, regardless of the number of speakers.In a stereo-audio system a stereoscopic sound effect is implemented byoutputting audio signals from different sound sources to two speakers.Also, in a surround system the sound composed by two or more soundsources is reproduced, and outputted to a number of speakers. Forexample, currently, the most widely used 5.1-channel surround systemoutputs five different sound sources, and the source which emphasizesthe bass portion of the five different sound sources is outputtedthrough a sixth speaker.

Currently, the surround sound is implemented by using a number ofwireless communication terminal, but there is the problem with thisimplementation of the surround sound system that limits its use tonon-calling times (e.g., cannot be used when calling), due to thecharacteristics of the wireless communication terminals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

One or more aspects of the subject inventive concept M relates to amethod and configurations inventive concept for implementing surroundsound system using a plurality of vehicles. The subject technologyimplements the surround sound system by outputting an audio signal froma sound source corresponding to a surround sound node (e.g., of avehicle) based on a synchronization signal after each vehicle (e.g.,node) located in a local area (e.g., an AVN system: Audio, Video,Navigation system) identifies the respective surround sound nodeassociated with that vehicle based on a position of the vehicle.

The aspects of the present inventive concept are not limited by theabove description, other aspects and advantages of the present inventiveconcept can be understood by the following description, and they willbecome apparent by embodiments of the present inventive concept. Also,it will be easily seen that the aspects and advantages of the presentinventive concept can be realized by means described in the claims andcombination thereof.

According to some aspects of the present inventive concept, a method forimplementing a surround sound system for a plurality of vehicles, eachvehicle having a surround sound implementation function that is in an onstate includes: storing sound source data for each node of the surroundsound system by each vehicle, obtaining, by each vehicle, GPS positioninformation associated with that vehicle, obtaining, M by each vehicle,GPS position information associated with other vehicles of the pluralityof vehicles, identifying, by each vehicle, a respective node of thesurround sound system associated with each vehicle based on the GPSposition information associated with that vehicle and the GPS positioninformation associated with the other vehicles of the plurality ofvehicles, and outputting, by each vehicle, an audio signal from a soundsource corresponding to that node according to a synchronization.

In another aspect, a method for implementing surround sound system usinga plurality of vehicles includes: storing, by each vehicle, sound sourcedata for each node of the surround sound system, sharing, by eachvehicle, RSS (Received Signal Strength), DOA (Direction of Arrival) andTOA (Time of Arrival) measured during mutual communication, identifying,by each vehicle, a node based on a relative position based on themutually shared RSS, DOA and TOA between the plurality of vehicles, andoutputting, by each vehicle, an audio signal from a sound sourcecorresponding to the that node according to a synchronization signal,wherein each vehicle has an implemented surround sound function that isin an on state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinventive concept will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram for a plurality of vehicles in which thepresent inventive concept is applied.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for implementing surround sound usinga plurality of vehicles according to an embodiment of the presentinventive concept.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for implementing surround sound usinga plurality of vehicles according to another embodiment of the presentinventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The foregoing aspects, features and advantages will be more apparentthrough the detail description as below with reference to theaccompanying drawings, and thus the those skilled in the art can beeasily embody the technical spirit of the present inventive concept.Further, in the following description of the present inventive concept,if it is determined that the detailed description for the known artrelated to the present inventive concept unnecessarily obscures the gistof the present inventive concept, the detailed description thereof willbe omitted. Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings,preferred embodiments of the present inventive concept will be describedin detail.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram for a plurality of vehicles M applyingthe present inventive concept.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of vehicles in which the presentinventive concept is applied can perform V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle)communication, and each vehicle includes an AVN (Audio, Video,Navigation) system. In some aspects, the AVN system stores all soundsource data for each position (each node) of a surround sound system,and each node (e.g., a vehicle) can identify a corresponding nodeassociated with that node based on the node's own GPS positioninformation and GPS position information obtained from other vehicles(e.g., nodes) by V2V communication.

That is, each vehicle identifies its own respective position (e.g.,front, right, left, rear, or center) by comparing its own GPS positioninformation and other vehicle's GPS position information.

In one or more aspects, after identifying one's own GPS information,each vehicle outputs an audio signal from the sound source correspondingto its node according to a synchronization signal. At this time, themost centrally located vehicle 10 operates as a master and provides thesynchronization signal to each vehicle.

On the other hand, each vehicle can identify its own node based on itsown position by exchanging measured RSS (Received Signal Strength), DOA(Direction of Arrival) and TOA (Time of Arrival) signals whencommunicating with other vehicle by V2V. In some aspects, the RSS is avalue representative of the strength of a received signal and can beused when measuring a relative distance. The DOA is a valuerepresentative of the direction of a received signal and can be usedwhen estimating a relative angle. The TOA is a value representative of atransmission time and can be used when measuring a relative distance.

In one or more implementations, the AVN system mounted in each vehiclehas an on/off setting button for the surround sound implementationfunction, and if the surround sound implementation function is turned onby a user, the surround sound system may be implemented by the processas shown in FIG. 2.

In some aspects, the AVN system can display a sound bar through HUD(Head-Up Display) by interworking with ECU (Electronic Control Unit) invehicle, and can operate an internal/external illumination device byinterworking with the output sound source data. It provides a visualeffect to a user.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for implementing surround sound usinga plurality of vehicles according to an embodiment of the presentinventive concept. Each vehicle may be in a state in which the soundimplementation function is turned on.

First, each vehicle stores all sound source data for each node ofsurround sound system (201). The sound source data can be downloaded byconnecting with a server (not shown for simplicity), and can be obtainedthrough an external storage device (e.g., USB, etc.).

Then, each vehicle obtains its own GPS position information (202). TheGPS position information can be easily obtained, for example, by anavigation system.

Next, each vehicle obtains other vehicle's GPS position information(203).

Then, each vehicle identifies the corresponding node of all nodes (e.g.,vehicles) implementing surround sound system based on its own GPSposition information and other vehicle's GPS position information (204).

Finally, each vehicle outputs an audio signal from a sound sourcecorresponding to its own node according to a synchronization signal(205). In some implementations, the most centrally located vehicle 10 ofvehicles transmits the synchronization signal to other vehicle.

Here, if the number of vehicle corresponding to a specific node is aplural, the plurality of vehicles corresponding to that specific nodemay perform the same operation. That is, they output the sound sourcedata corresponding to the node according to the synchronization signal.

In addition, each vehicle can operate an illumination by interworkingwith the audio signals outputted by its own sound source.

Also, each vehicle can output a sound bar through a HUD.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for a method for implementing surround soundusing a plurality of vehicles according to another embodiment of thepresent inventive concept. It is understood that each vehicle may be thestate which the sound implementation function is turned on.

First, each vehicle may store all sound data for each node of surroundsound (301).

Next, each vehicle may measure the RSS (Received Signal Strength), theDOA (Direction of Arrival) and the TOA (Time of Arrival) during mutualV2V communication (302

Then, vehicles exchange the RSS, the DOA and the TOA between one another(303). In other words, each vehicle shares it own RSS, DOA and TOA datawith other nodes.

Next, each vehicle identifies the node corresponding to the relativeposition based on the obtained RSS, DOA and TOA (304).

Finally, each vehicle outputs audio signals from the sound sourcecorresponding to its own node according to the synchronization signal(305). In some implementations, the most centrally located vehicle 10 ofvehicles transmits the synchronization signal to other vehicle.

In addition, each vehicle can operate an illumination by interworkingwith the audio signal outputted by its own sound source.

Also, each vehicle can output a sound bar through a HUD.

On the other hand, as described above, the method of the presentinventive concept can be implemented as a computer program. And, codesand code segments constituting the program can be easily inferred by acomputer programmer in the art. Further, the created program is storedon a recording medium (information storage medium) in acomputer-readable, read and executed by a computer, thereby implementingthe method of the present inventive concept. And, the recording mediumincludes all type of recording medium which can read by a computer.

As the above described, although the present inventive concept isexplained by particular configurations and drawings, the technicalconcept of the inventive concept is not limited to the aforementionedembodiments, and various modification and changes may be made within theequivalents of the technical concept of the present inventive conceptand the appended claims by those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for implementing a surround sound systemusing a plurality of vehicles, the method comprising: Storing, by eachvehicle, sound source data for each node of the surround sound system;obtaining, by each vehicle, GPS position information associated withthat vehicle; obtaining, by each vehicle, GPS position informationassociated with other vehicles of the plurality of vehicles;identifying, by each vehicle, a respective node of the surround soundsystem associated with each vehicle based on the GPS positioninformation associated with that vehicle and the GPS positioninformation associated with the other vehicles of the plurality ofvehicles; and outputting, by each vehicle, an audio signal from a soundsource corresponding to that vehicle according to a synchronization,wherein each vehicle has an implemented surround sound function that isin an on state.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprisingtransmitting the synchronization signal to other vehicle by a mostcentrally located vehicle of the plurality of vehicles.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising operating, by each vehicle, an illuminationby interworking with an audio signal outputted by the sound sourcecorresponding to that vehicle.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein themethod further comprises step of outputting a sound bar through a HUD(Head Up Display) by the each vehicle.
 5. A method for implementingsurround sound system using a plurality of vehicles, the methodcomprising: Storing, by each vehicle, sound source data for each node ofthe surround sound system; sharing, by each vehicle, RSS (ReceivedSignal Strength), DOA (Direction of Arrival) and TOA (Time of Arrival)measured during mutual communication; identifying, by each vehicle, anode based on a relative position based on the mutually shared RSS, DOAand TOA between the plurality of vehicles; and outputting, by eachvehicle, an audio signal from a sound source corresponding to the thatnode according to a synchronization signal, wherein each vehicle has animplemented surround sound function that is in an on state.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, further comprising transmitting the synchronizationsignal to other vehicle by a most centrally located vehicle of theplurality of vehicles.
 7. The method of claim 5, further comprisingoperating, by each vehicle, an illumination by interworking with anaudio signal outputted by the sound source corresponding to thatvehicle.
 8. The method of claim 5, further comprising outputting, byeach vehicle, a sound bar through a HUD (Head Up Display).